Promoting Music & The Arts in York & Beyond

Kid Kapichi announce new single and Leeds date

Hastings lads Kid Kapichi are set to make one hell of a noise this year, unleashing their first cut and statement of intent yesterday, titled 2019. “It’s an angry song that comments on the state of affairs that young people of varying backgrounds are left in in Britain at the moment”, explains vocalist Ben Beetham, “The lyric ‘what a shocker it must be, 19 turning 20 in 2019’ is a comment on the uncertainty and difficulty that a whole new generation are being thrust into this year at the beginning of their adult lives – decisions that have been made for them and not by them. The song is a call to arms for this generation to take control of their destinies.”

Kid Kapichi endeavour to create a sense of relief from modern struggles. Bassist Eddie Lewis comments “I would say although we all face these issues, we don’t necessarily want everything to come across as negative in our sound. Even though there’s a serious message behind the vocals in 2019, the songs is upbeat.” It’s this that makes Kid Kapichi such an exciting prospect – the music provides a sense of escapism from their honest social commentary. The nightmarish, dystopian elements in their music are accompanied by blistering riffs, contagious melodies and arena-sized choruses.

With deep roots in the Hastings music scene, Kid Kapichi cut their teeth at local legendary venue The Tubman and had regular appearances at local showcase Fat Tuesday festival. They worked from the ground up to support fellow Kent heavyweights Slaves and the likes of Skunk Anansie. “I don’t think we’d exist if it wasn’t for the hastings music scene”, explains vocalist Jack Wilson, “It really is that good. The competition down here is so fierce that you have to constantly up your game. Plus the people of Hastings are so unique it gives you so much to write about. Hastings just gives you the freedom to really go for it and act in a totally uninhibited way on stage. The crazier the better.”

The train tracks from Kid Kapichi’s journey are worn with pride throughout their sound, captured in Jack Wilson and Ben Beetham’s Hastings-native dual vocal, and their ability to create a sense of location with every song. There’s no better example than previous single Revolver, depicting a night out on the piss taking a turn for the worse with it’s sinister undertones but untouchably liberating melody. Somewhat of a self-fulfilling prophecy, Ben explains “A few weeks after we wrote Revolver on the exact road in Hastings that the song’s based on, Jack and I got jumped by a bunch of guys and got our heads kicked in – so at least we know there’s truth in what we write about in our tunes.”

Live is where Kid Kapichi really shine, brimming with energy and euphoria and blurring the lines between britpop and punk. Recent live highlights including support to Rat Boy, Fat White Family, Gurr, Fizzy Blood, Queen Kwong and Pretty Vicious. Their full-throttled shows have garnered plaudits from the likes of 6Music, NME, Amazing Radio, Planet Rock Radio, Kerrang!, Louder Than War and idobi Radio.

With further new music and tour dates in the pipeline for 2019, Kid Kapichi have their sights set high. See them at Leeds Oporto on March 5th.